Proposal Information for 2013B-0148

CoI: Elizabeth Lada, University of FloridaCoI: Kelsey Jorgenson, University of FloridaCoI: Joao Alves, University of ViennaCoI: Carlos Roman, UNAM-EnsenadaCoI: Stefan Meingast, University of ViennaCoI: Jan Forbich, University of ViennaCoI: Herve Bouy, Center for Astrobiology of Madrid

Title: Deep NIR Imaging Surveys of the Nearest GMCs: Determining the Factors that Control the Star Formation Rates in Dense Gas

Abstract: We propose to carry out complete, deep NIR imaging surveys of the high extinction (A_V > 5 mag.), regions of the two nearest giant molecular clouds (GMCs) to Earth. Though at a similar distance (400 pc) and of similar mass (10^5 M_\odot) and size, these two clouds are characterized by star formation rates (SFRs) that differ by an order of magnitude. The primary goal of this NEWFIRM study is to construct sensitive, high resolution infrared extinction maps of these clouds to make robust measurements of their masses and mass distributions. This data will be used to construct mass functions of the dense core populations and will be combined with surveys for YSOs made by the Spitzer, Wise and Herschel space observatories and molecular-line observations of the gas made with ground-based radio telescopes in an attempt to determine the physical conditions that control the rate of conversion of the molecular gas mass into stars. Understanding this process is critical to developing predictive theories of both star formation and galaxy evolution.